Godavari key for Telangana: Harish tells CWC

January 17, 2018, 11:28 PM IST

Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao today said the river Godavari is the main water source for Telangana State as water availability in Krishna was depleting day after day.

Speaking to the media in Delhi after discussing about Kaleshwaram project with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who chaired the CWC meeting on projects, rivers and water usage among the States, Harish Rao said Telangana favours linkage of rivers for optimal use. “Since statehood fight was mainly for water share, we are for linking the rivers and avoiding wastage of about 300 tmc into the sea.

Harish said he urged the meeting chaired by Gadkari to set up a technical committee with CWC, NWDA and State Irrigation department officials on water availability. By allotting 1600 tmc to Sitaram project, which is ideal for river linkage among the inter-States, the rest of waters can be shared by other States by linkage.

He said Telangana has a share of 954 tmc in the Godavari River. Since water is the main source, the government will turn Warangal district green by using Devadula project with 100 tmc, the Irrigation minister said. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao was keen on completing the projects as Telangana was duped of its rightful share in the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh State, Harish added. (NSS)